If you have not yet read "The Story of Christianity" by Justo L Gonzales, you have really slighted yourself and your growth in faith and understanding.
Here are a couple quotes. I hope they encourage you to read the whole thing. In these few words I find so much truth.....
"Without understanding the past, we are unable to understand ourselves, for in a sense the past still lives in us and influences who we are and how we understand the Christian messsage."
"The notion that we read the New Testament exactly as the early Christians did, without any weight of tradition coloring our interpretation, is an illusion. It is also a dangerous illusion, for it tends to absolutize our interpretation, confusing it with the Word of God. One way in which we can avoid this danger is to know the past that colors our vision."
"....if we are to break free from an undue weight of tradition, we must begin by understanding what that tradition is, how we came to be where we are, and how particular elements in our past color our view of the present. It is then that we are free to choose which elements in the past - and in the present - we wish to reject, and which we will affirm."
"Every renewal of the church, every great age in its history, has been grounded on a renewed reading of history."
Justo L. Gonzales
Oh Lord how I've been feeling this in my spirit for so very long. Many of the discussions I read here and elsewhere in this forum would fizzle if only people knew our history as a church. This book and the quotes above just bring it all to the surface so I can hold fast to that which witnesses to my spirit, and reject with liberty and freedom those events and traditions that are the wisdom and tradition of men. Jesus lights my way, that in my blindness, following Him and His Word I may not fall into the same ditch that so many traditionalists have fallen into in the past, and are headed for in the future. Thank You Lord.
God bless you all real good,
"O"
